First sportfield LED lighting in Portugal

Supporting children’s football dreams

During the State Visit of the Dutch King and Queen to the President of the Portuguese Republica, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Oktober 2017 in Lisbon, the first LED lighted football accomodation was put in the spotlight. The AAA-LUX LED luminaire project beautifully connected Dutch and Portuguees entrepeneurship with the sustainable energy, which was the theme of the Dutch Portuguees trade mission, in the wake of the state visit.

High quality facilities for hundreds of children

At the football club União Recreativa e Desportiva de Tires in the beautiful village of Cascais, hundreds of children make use of the facilities, one day hoping to becoming a famous player. It explains the need for high quality facilities such as artificial fields and high quality lighting.

Creating a green flagship

For many years durability is highly valuated in Portugal. Being able to apply this to the countries main sports, can give an extra boost to Portugals image as one of the green flagships of the European sustainable policy. The two LED lighted fields of Tires, are expected to save at least 70% energy, compared to conventional lighting. At full power the savings are about 40 to 50%. With the use of wireless controls it is possible to dim down the levels from Class II to training level, leading to an additional 30% reduction of energy use.

Esergy Consulting made it possible

Partner Esergy Consulting made it possible to re-use the existing mast structures so the cost would be as low as possible. It is an important feature of AAA-LUX lighting to keep the financial hurdle at a minimum and as a result keeping LED sports field lighting within reach of more clubs. The AAA-LUX luminaires are designed in such a way that in most cases existing technical infrastructure can be used. Luminaires are light weight and quite small, which is unique in LED flood lighting.

Club manager overwhelmed

Club manager Jose Carlos Brunheta is delighted with the new LED lighting. “After seeing pictures and hearing stories the choice for LED was clear. The financial and durablility contribution of the city made it possible”, Brunheta says. “But it was still overwhelming when the light is turned on for the first time”.

Before the club was never spoilt with good lighting, to say the least. Making the step to EN Class II lighting was a huge leap forward for the club. Brunheta: “What I like about Esergy Lighting, who supported us extremely well, is that they like to do more than the requirements prescribe. Class II requires 0,6 uniformity, with AAA-LUX they aimed for at least 0,7. We wanted to have a unique upgraded accomodation and we are happy and proud we succeeded.”